Koume

Human relationship, with all its complexities and contradictions, is a central theme in Takagi’s artistic explorations and creations.

In the portrayal of adult human relationship and emotions in her paintings, Takagi uses children and personified animal characters, in the hope for people to return their hearts to their original childlike state - a state of the mind and heart that Takagi believes is what society needs in today’s world. Set against vividly colored floral motifs, the works conjure innocent fairy-tale imageries that belie the more complex human conditions and eroticism that are being portrayed.

Using the medium of acrylic on canvas and Japanese rice paper, Takagi deliberately creates a sense of flatness in the floral backdrop in order to contrast with the more three-dimensionally rendered forms of the main subjects in the paintings to create a visual hierarchy. The pictorial depth is further amplified by her innovative use of embroidery, and sometimes beads and specially created clay resin objects, to bring out the more important elements within the pictorial composition.

Madoka Takagi is a contemporary Japanese artist, born in 1983 in Tokushima, Japan. In 2008, she graduated from the Graduate School of Tama Art University majoring in Printing, which has been instrumental in shaping her current painting style. She is also strongly influenced by Japanese textile, owing to the fact that her mother is a Japanese dressmaker. Prior to the current Hong Kong solo exhibition at Art Projects Gallery, Takagi has held group and solo exhibitions in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, New Delhi and Italy.